Rolling bolt lock

ABSTRACT

A lock has a cylindrical bolt rotatable about its axis which is advanced and retracted in a plane transverse to its axis by a slide mechanism operable in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said bolt along the path of advancement and retraction. The slide mechanism coacts with the axial mounting means of the bolt to prevent jimmying of the lock.

United States Patent 1191 Horgan, Jr. [4 Aug. 13, 1974 ROLLING BOLT LOCK 918,662 4/1909 Drucker 292/37 1,593,684 7 l9 6 A k 70128 [75] memo organ, Pmsburghi 1,946,384 2i194 B221 e t al. i280 1,979,893 11/1954 Lyons 70/417 Assigneez Blumcraft of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, 2,645,924 7/1953 Kelly 70/144 Pa. Primary Examiner-Albert G. Craig, Jr. [22] Flled' 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Paul & Paul [21] Appl. No.: 325,607

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 70/134, 70/100, 229924227601, A lock has a cylindrical bolt rotatable about its axis which is advanced and retracted in a plane transverse ggfikg to its axis by a slide mechanism operable in a direction 37 transverse to the direction of movement of said bolt along the path of advancement and retraction. The 5 6] R f Ct d slide mechanism coacts with the axial mounting means 6 erences l e of the bolt to prevent jimmying of the lock. UNITED STATES PATENTS 394,949 12/1888 Ansher et al. 70/150 10 Clams 7 Drawmg Flgm'es PATENIED we I 31974 SHEET 1 [IF 2 IOO Pmsmmwm 3,828.592

SHEET 2 [IF 2 ROLLING BOLT LOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to locks, and more particularly, to lock bolts and the means for actuating them.

Heavy duty lock bolts such as the type used on commercial buildings, must be large enough to provide adequate protection, and yet be free to move easily under the actuation of a normal key lock cylinder even after repeated use in adverse weather conditions.

I have found that by using a cylindrical body as the bolt in contact with the housing in such locks, friction is substantially reduced, and yet the bolt provides excellent physical properties in that it cannot be forced open, broken, or sawed through easily.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The present invention provides, in combination with a lock mechanism, a rotary bolt within the housing of the lock mechanism engaged by a slide assembly means, which assembly means is movably disposed within the housing to move in a path transverse to the direction of the movement of the bolt as the bolt is advanced and retracted along a path with respect to the housing by the slide assembly means. The slide assembly means is provided with slotted plates engaging the shaft with which axially supports the rotary bolt; the

BRIEF DESCRIPTION. OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a view of a lock mechanism in accordance with thejpreferred embodiment of my invention shown partially broken away and in place in its environmental condition with respect. to a'door shown in phantom lines and foreshortened, and a threshold; I

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 1 of the lock mechanism with parts shown in alternate positions;

FIG. 3 is a section taken as indicated by the lines and arrows 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section on an enlarged scale taken as indicated by the lines and arrows 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the lock mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged view of a portion of the lock mechanism shown in FIG. I with an alternate position shown in phantom lines and FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 with the mechanism shown in an alternate position in phantom lines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Although specific forms of the invention have been selected for illustration in the drawings, and the follow ing description is drawn in specific terms for the purpose of describing these forms of the invention, this description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the lock mechanism comprises a housing designated generally 10 having mounted therein a lock cylinder 12 of the key lock type which has on the back a tab 14 which will rotate in response to turning of the key in the lockcylinder. The tab extends beyond the margins of the cylinder so as to be useful in moving parts of the lock mechanism. The lock housing 10 comprises generally a plurality of side walls 16 and 18 fixedly connected and spaced from one another by end cap spacers 20 and 22 which have ears extending therefrom as clearly shown in the drawings, having holes therethrough; said ears serving as mounting flanges whereby bolts 24 can be used to retain the lock housing in a cut out in the base of the door frame or in the vertical edge of the door in the event that the lock housing is mounted vertically. It is to be understood, however, that in the embodiment shown for purposes of illustration, the lock housing is shown mounted in the bottom shoe of the door designated generally 28, FIG. 1. As mounted, the bottom edge of the housing 10 is flush with the bottom edge of the door 28, so that the bolt in the extended condition extends beyond the bottom edge and into a slot 32 provided in the threshold 34. In the retracted condition the bolt 30 as shown in FIG. 2 is retracted substantially within the housing and clears the threshold. As shown, the door would pivot about a vertical edge, so as to swing toward and away I from the plane of the paper.

In order to effectuate the advancement and retraction of the bolt 30, l have provided a slide assembly means comprising two side members 36 and 38 fixedly spaced from one another in parallel planes by a plurality of shafts which serve dual functions. These shafts 40, 42 and 44 as shown in FIG. 5 also support ball bearings 46, 48 and 50 respectively, for rotation thereabout. The shafts 52 and 54 are the means by which the tab 14 on the back of the lock cylinder engages the slide assembly and moves it laterally as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The side members 36 and 38 retain the bolt 30 there between. The bolt comprises a cylindrical body having at its axis a shaft 60 which extends beyond the axial limits of the walls of the body and about which is mounted a ball bearing 62; the ball bearing being mounted in the body 31 so that the body freely rotates aboutthe shaft 60 on the bearing 62.

The end of the shaft extends through the sidemembers 36 and 38 as clearly illustrated in FIG. 3 through slots which are Z-shaped when viewed as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5; the slot inmember 38 being identical to the slot 72 in member 36. The slots are so designed that when the slide assembly is moved laterally from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the right to the position shown in FIG. 2, the shaft 60 will roll up the inclined surface 75, thereby retracting the bolt 30. Of course, if the slide is moved from the position shown in FIG. 2 transversely to the position shown in FIG. 1, the bolt will travel downwardly when viewed as in those figures and be extended from the housing.

The bolt is retained against lateral movement, inpart, by the spacer 78 and the anti-rattle means, designated generally 80. This means comprises a plurality of bearing pivot arms 82, 84, FIG. 4 connected by a web 85,

which support a bearing 86 about a shaft 88. The arms are pivoted at their upper end remote from the shaft 88 by a pivot pin 90 which passes through the end cap 20. A spring 92 is mounted under compression in a hole in the end cap 20 as clearly illustrated in FIG. 1 and exerts a force against the web 85 in order to force the bearing 80 into engagement with the cylindrical side wall of the bolt 30. This in turn forces the cylindrical side wall against the spacer 78. r

As the bolt is advanced or retracted with respect to the housing it follows a pathwhereby its axis remains substantially on a line parallel to the edge of the spacer 78. The lateral movement of the slide mechanism driving the bolt is transverse to this path of travel of the bolt, and is effectuated by the tab 14 engaging the shafts 52 and 54. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tab 14 engaged the shaft 54 and clears the shaft 52 when moving from the locked to unlocked condition, that is, from FIG. 1 to FIG. 2. The tab engage the shaft 52 and clears the shaft 54 when moving from the unlocked to the locked condition, that is, when moving from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 1. In both cases the slide mechanism rolls on the bearings 46 and 50, which are retained in the housing by means of the flange 100 extending from the side wall 18 of the housing.

The upper surfaces of the bearings 48 and S intermittently engage a steel ball 102 which is retained in a slot in the spacer 78 and which is forced by the spring binding and with little surface contact. Further, the rotatable cylindrically shaped bolt cannot be sawn through, because normally it would turn. As a further jimmy-proof aspect, the ends of the Z-shaped slots provide a means whereby the bolt cannot be opened by a force against it unless the slide assembly is properly actuated. Thus, with the shaft 60 in the position shown in FIG. 1 (reproduced on a greatly enlarged scale in phantom lines in FIG. 6), if an external force were to be exerted against the bolt in an attempt to force it upwardly and into the lock mechanism without moving the slide assembly, the shaft 60 would travelin the path shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in full lines and be locked behind the lower edge of the inclined channel. Notice that once the slide is moved to the right as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 7, the shaft 60 will be positioned so that it will follow the sloping surface 75 as previously described.

To prevent the bolt from becoming stuck when it is in a retracted position, the sloping surface 77 will drive the shaft 60 downwardly and outwardly along its customary path upon appropriate movement of the slide assembly to the left. This action is further enhanced by the effect of the bearing 80 and the spring 92.

At the other end of the slot, the shaft 60 passes slightly over center of the corner of the Z-shaped end of the slot, thereby preventing the bolt from accidentally being extended when in the retracted condition.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials and arrangement of parts which have a been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

It will further be understood that the Abstract of the Disclosure set forth above is intended to provide a non-legal technical statement of the contents of the disclosure in compliance with the Rules of Practice of the United States Patent Office, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention described and claimed herein.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lock mechanism having a housing, a bolt, actuating means for advancing and retracting the bolt with respect to the housing, and lock means for engaging the actuating means and moving it as aforesaid between a locked and unlocked condition, the improvement comprising:

a. said bolt being cylindrical and rotatable about its axis;

b. said actuating means comprising a slide assembly means for advancing and retracting the bolt along a first path with respect to the housing, said slide assembly means being movable along a second path transversely to the direction of movement of said bolt along said first path;

0. said cylindrical bolt being mounted such that the planar surfaces of the bolt are substantially parallel to the plane which includes said first and second paths.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said slide assembly means engages said bolt to'prevent said bolt from being retracted within said housing without appropriate movement of said slide assembly means in response to movement of said lock'means.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said slide assembly means engages said bolt to prevent said bolt from being extended from said housing without appropriate movement of said slide assembly means in response to movement of said lock means.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises a plurality of bearings mounted to said slide assembly means and engaging said housing to reduce the friction between said housing and said slide assembly means upon relative movement therebetween.

5. In a lock mechanism having a housing, a bolt, actuating means for advancing and retracting the bolt with respect to the housing, and lock means for engaging the actuating means and moving it as aforesaid between a locked and unlocked condition, the improvement comprising:

a. said bolt being cylindrical and rotatable about its axis;

b. said actuating means comprising a slide assembly means for advancing and retracting the bolt along a path with respect to the housing, said slide assembly means being movable transversely to the direction of movement of said bolt along said path; and

c. rattle prevention means, said means mounted in said housing and engaging said bolt to maintain said bolt in smooth rolling engagement with said housing along its path of travel as it is advanced and retracted.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said rattle prevention means comprises a pivotally mounted frame respect to the housing, and lock means for engaging the actuating means and moving it as aforesaid between a locked and unlocked condition, the improvement comv prising:

a. said bolt being cylindrical and rotatable about its axis; b. said actuating means comprising a slide assembly means for advancing and retracting the bolt along a path with respect to the housing, said slide assembly means being movable transversely to the direction of movement of said bolt along said path;

c. said actuating means further comprising a plurality of bearings mounted to said slide assembly means and engaging said housing to reduce the friction respect to the housing, and lock means for engaging the actuating means and moving it as aforesaid between a locked and unlocked condition, the improvement comprising:

a. said bolt being cylindrical and rotatable about its 7 axis; b. said actuating means comprising a slide assembly means for advancing and retracting the bolt along a path with respect to the housing, said slide assembly means being movable transversely to the direction of movement of said bolt along said path; and

c. said slide assembly means comprising a plurality of members fixedly spaced from one another and having slots therein; and said bolt being mounted for rotation about its axis upon a shaft; and the ends of said shaft extending beyond said bolt and into said slots; said slots having sloping surfaces coating with said ends of said shaft for advancing and retracting said bolt as aforesaid, upon appropriate movement of said slide assembly means.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said shaft is mounted in a bearing andsaid bearing is mounted in said bolt.

10. The invention of claim 8 wherein said slots are Z-shaped and the transverse upper and lower termini thereof provide a means for preventing the bolt from being retracted within said housing without appropriate movement of said slide assembly means and being extended from said housing without appropriate movement of said slide assembly means. 

1. In a lock mechanism having a housing, a bolt, actuating means for advancing and retracting the bolt with respect to the housing, and lock means for engaging the actuating means and moving it as aforesaid between a locked and unlocked condition, the improvement comprising: a. said bolt being cylindrical and rotatable about its axis; b. said actuating means comprising a slide assembly Means for advancing and retracting the bolt along a first path with respect to the housing, said slide assembly means being movable along a second path transversely to the direction of movement of said bolt along said first path; c. said cylindrical bolt being mounted such that the planar surfaces of the bolt are substantially parallel to the plane which includes said first and second paths.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said slide assembly means engages said bolt to prevent said bolt from being retracted within said housing without appropriate movement of said slide assembly means in response to movement of said lock means.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said slide assembly means engages said bolt to prevent said bolt from being extended from said housing without appropriate movement of said slide assembly means in response to movement of said lock means.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises a plurality of bearings mounted to said slide assembly means and engaging said housing to reduce the friction between said housing and said slide assembly means upon relative movement therebetween.
 5. In a lock mechanism having a housing, a bolt, actuating means for advancing and retracting the bolt with respect to the housing, and lock means for engaging the actuating means and moving it as aforesaid between a locked and unlocked condition, the improvement comprising: a. said bolt being cylindrical and rotatable about its axis; b. said actuating means comprising a slide assembly means for advancing and retracting the bolt along a path with respect to the housing, said slide assembly means being movable transversely to the direction of movement of said bolt along said path; and c. rattle prevention means, said means mounted in said housing and engaging said bolt to maintain said bolt in smooth rolling engagement with said housing along its path of travel as it is advanced and retracted.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said rattle prevention means comprises a pivotally mounted frame having a roller attached thereto rotatable about its axis and supported by the frame for arcuate movement with respect to the pivotal mounting, said roller and frame being spring biased toward said bolt so that said roller continuously engages the cylindrical surface of said bolt.
 7. In a lock mechanism having a housing, a bolt, actuating means for advancing and retracting the bolt with respect to the housing, and lock means for engaging the actuating means and moving it as aforesaid between a locked and unlocked condition, the improvement comprising: a. said bolt being cylindrical and rotatable about its axis; b. said actuating means comprising a slide assembly means for advancing and retracting the bolt along a path with respect to the housing, said slide assembly means being movable transversely to the direction of movement of said bolt along said path; c. said actuating means further comprising a plurality of bearings mounted to said slide assembly means and engaging said housing to reduce the friction between said housing and said slide assembly means upon relative movement therebetween, one of said bearings and an additional bearing being mounted to said slide assembly means to cooperate with a ball mounted in said housing and spring biased toward said bearings to provide a means for retaining said slide assembly means in position when said bolt is fully advanced or fully retracted with respect to said housing.
 8. In a lock mechanism having a housing, a bolt, actuating means for advancing and retracting the bolt with respect to the housing, and lock means for engaging the actuating means and moving it as aforesaid between a locked and unlocked condition, the improvement comprising: a. said bolt being cylindrical and rotatable about its axis; b. said actuating means comprising a slide assembly means for advancing and retracting the bolt along a path with respect to the housing, said slide assembly means being Movable transversely to the direction of movement of said bolt along said path; and c. said slide assembly means comprising a plurality of members fixedly spaced from one another and having slots therein; and said bolt being mounted for rotation about its axis upon a shaft; and the ends of said shaft extending beyond said bolt and into said slots; said slots having sloping surfaces coating with said ends of said shaft for advancing and retracting said bolt as aforesaid, upon appropriate movement of said slide assembly means.
 9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said shaft is mounted in a bearing and said bearing is mounted in said bolt.
 10. The invention of claim 8 wherein said slots are Z-shaped and the transverse upper and lower termini thereof provide a means for preventing the bolt from being retracted within said housing without appropriate movement of said slide assembly means and being extended from said housing without appropriate movement of said slide assembly means. 